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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Typha glauca is a PERENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft 10in). The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Oil Pollen Root Seed Shoots Stem
Edible Uses: Oil

Roots - raw or cooked. Rich in starch, they can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield a sweet syrup[172]. The root can also be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereal flours. Rich in protein, this flour is used to make biscuits, bread, cakes etc. Young shoots in spring - raw or cooked. An asparagus substitute. They are peeled before being eaten[172] Base of mature stem - raw or cooked. It is best to remove the outer part of the stem. Young flowering stem - raw, cooked or made into a soup. Tastes like sweet corn[172]. Seed - cooked. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize, but has a pleasant nutty taste when roasted. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. Due to the small size of the seed this is probably not a very worthwhile crop. Pollen - raw or cooked[172]. A protein rich additive to flour used in making bread, porridge etc[183]. It can also be eaten with the young flowers, which makes it considerably easier to utilize. The pollen can be harvested by placing the flowering stem over a wide but shallow container and then gently tapping the stem and brushing the pollen off with a fine brush[9]. This will help to pollinate the plant and thereby ensure that both pollen and seeds can be harvested[K].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Miscellany

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Biomass Insulation Miscellany Oil Paper Soil stabilization Stuffing Thatching Weaving

The stems and leaves have many uses, they make a good thatch, can be used in making paper, can be woven into mats, chairs, hats etc. They are a good source of biomass, making an excellent addition to the compost heap or used as a source of fuel etc. The hairs of the fruits are used for stuffing pillows etc. They have good insulating and buoyancy properties. The pollen is highly inflammable and is used in making fireworks. This plants extensive root system makes it very good for stabilizing wet banks of rivers, lakes etc.

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Grows in boggy pond margins or shallow water to 15cm deep[1, 200]. Requires a rich wet soil if it is to well[200]. Succeeds in sun or part shade[200]. This species is believed to be a naturally occurring hybrid between T. angustifolia and T. latifolia[270]. Plants can be very invasive, spreading freely at the roots when in a suitable site[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a pot and stand it in 3cm of water. Pot up the young seedlings as soon as possible and, as the plants develop, increase the depth of water. Plant out in summer. Division in spring. Very easy, harvest the young shoots when they are about 10 - 30cm tall, making sure there is at least some root attached, and plant them out into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec, Ontario, Manitoba), United States (Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Montana, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Sparganium stoloniferum		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	SN	WeWa	1	1
Typha angustifolia	Small Reed Mace, Narrowleaf cattail	Perennial	3.0	3-7		LMH	N	WeWa	5	3	3
Typha bungeana		Perennial	0.0	-	F	LMH	N	WeWa	4	3	2
Typha davidiana		Perennial	1.0	-	F	LMH	N	WeWa	4	3	3
Typha domingensis	Southern Cattail	Perennial	3.0	5-12		LMH	N	WeWa	4	3	3
Typha elephantina	Bora. Elephant grass, Indian reed-mace.	Perennial	3.0	10-12	F	LMH	SN	MWeWa	3	3	3
Typha latifolia	Reedmace, Broadleaf cattail, Bullrush, Nailrod	Perennial	2.5	3-10	F	LMH	N	WeWa	5	3	4
Typha laxmannii		Perennial	1.5	4-8	F	LMH	N	WeWa	4	1	2
Typha minima		Perennial	0.1	5-9		LMH	N	WeWa	2	3
Typha orientalis	Broadleaf Cumbungi	Perennial	3.0	-	F	LMH	N	WeWa	4	3	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Typha glauca - Godr.